“When I was young, I lived with my grandparents. My father was a truck driver. My mother was a road construction worker. They usually went to different provinces and came back home once in a while. That was when I met them. My regular meals were rice with chilli paste and horse tamarind. I barely had any snacks. When I started Grade 4 or 5, I became a temple boy. After I got the vocational diploma, I was admitted to the department of engineering of four universities, but I chose to decline the offer and started working so that my younger sister could continue studying. Today, I am a rescuer at Ban Pae Sub-district Municipality. I am also a trainer of rescue drivers in Chaing Mai.” This is the life in a nutshell of Tonkla, or Pairat Pateekham, 33, a former sponsored child of Ban Pae Project, Chiang Mai.
School supplies and new school uniforms supported since he was sponsored in grade 3 have brought great joy to the young boy. In his teenage, Tonkla enjoyed youth life skill-development activities and became the chair of Ban Pae Youth Group. Since then, the seeds of volunteerism and compassion were sown deep within him and we have seen them grow and flourish throughout his work today.
“My first job was as a hotel maintenance worker. Later, I transitioned to working as a hospital maintenance worker. There, I witnessed many accidents and emergencies. When the opportunity arose, I applied for and was certified as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). Since then, I have been using my EMR certification to work in emergency medical services and disaster relief for Ban Pae Municipality. I am very dedicated to this work and continue to pursue additional training.”
Tonkla has undergone extensive training in high-altitude rescue, vehicle recovery from cliffs and narrow passages, and rope rescue techniques. He is also a certified rescue diver. Today, he is a highly skilled rescue diver and certified dive rescue instructor. He is one of the founders of Chom Thong District Disaster Response Club, a volunteer group dedicated to community service.
“World Vision Thailand taught me the importance of sharing and unity. From a recipient, today I am a giver as I have become a trainer who passes on knowledge and opportunities to younger generations. I want to thank my sponsor for supporting me until I have reached where I am today. Without your sponsorship, I would not have been able to give back to others. I am committed to doing more for society,” Tonkla concludes.
They say life is not easy, especially for a vulnerable child who is under-equipped with life assets. In every step of his life, backed with his sponsor’s support, Tonkla has been given opportunities to thrive. He has been encouraged to overcome challenges and grow into a resilient individual dedicated to disaster relief, saving lives, and passing on opportunities to others.
